Can you Negotiate Salary or Relocation with Arizona State Veterans Jobs?

fromtheseaRN, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2012

It never hurts to try and negotiate your rate, although for it to be effective you will need to have a lot of experience and great reviews to back you up. I highly doubt any facility in Arizona will offer relocation assistance, there is a flooded market here that they can have their pick of. Good luck!

asiangal · Dec 7, 2012

Yes....After flying into Arizona (with my husband and after they giving us a tour of the facility), I plan on telling them we are excited about the opportunity and the position.....then I plan on telling the Director of Nurses (who is giving us the tour) the following:

___________________________________________________________________

I wanted to get your thoughts on something if you don't mind. We are committed to this process as we flew half way across the country to be here and are very serious about the position. More specifically, is there anything that can be about the per hour as I would be making $4-$5 less per hour and it will cost us around $3000 to move.

Is this something that can be done to help us make this an easier decision for me and my family?

___________________________________________________________________

Whats everyones thoughts out there in terms of my approach? Seems it really can't hurt as you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Thoughts? Opinions?

Kabin · Dec 7, 2012

Before potentially ruffling feathers or appearing out of touch, it might be good to check if that's a fair offer for the job, employer, benefit's package, and location. Everything else being equal, hourly rates are tied to the local cost of living. And as many have said before, relocation reimbursement was from another era.

asiangal · Dec 7, 2012

I did noticed through online research that the positions pay range is $25.39-$30.74 based on experience. I've noticed when I applied the HR lady commented that she will review to see how much "verifiable" experience I have. As of today, I have 6 years experience but 3.5 years are over seas. I sent all the documentation over (of that experience) but they have to verify themselves (through phone or email I suppose). At a glance, because of the time difference, I know they weren't able to call anybody overseas for this verification.

In closing, I think the offer of $27.99 was based on only my experience in the US...not on the experience overseas...as it was harder to verify for them. Again....I don't know for sure...but this is my sense. THAT ALL SAID....I still think it doesn't hurt to negotiate as you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. to playMaybe just pressing them on the per hour (instead of relocation) is the way to go. As it stands now...there seems to be room for at least $2.75 with ($30.74-$27.99 = $2.75) in terms of the cap that the position pays out.

Thoughts?

MsBruiser · Dec 7, 2012

AZ Vets home is a state job. AZ state jobs generally pay very little. With 6+ years experience you would be making in the neighborhood of $35.00 at my hospital. But that is a "private sector" job. I would tread very lightly. Sure, ask for me - but I would not expect much else. Also, be aware that state employees are basically at the mercy of a fairly ignorant legislature that very rarely votes for meaningful pay raises. You may be earning that salary for quite some time to come.

asiangal · Dec 7, 2012

AZ Vets home is a state job. AZ state jobs generally pay very little. With 6+ years experience you would be making in the neighborhood of $35.00 at my hospital. But that is a "private sector" job. I would tread very lightly. Sure, ask for me - but I would not expect much else. Also, be aware that state employees are basically at the mercy of a fairly ignorant legislature that very rarely votes for meaningful pay raises. You may be earning that salary for quite some time to come.

Interesting and thanks for sharing your insights. Although I have 3.5 years of Hospital experience oversees, my US Experience (2.5 years) has all been in Nursing Homes. Being that we would be moving half way across the country (and my husband and I want to move to Arizona), I would hate to just downgrade in pay like this. However, it is a way out to Arizona where we believe our future lies.

So our situation is as follows:

1) Find another Nursing Home or Hospital Job in the Phoenix Valley, Prescott or Tucson area that pays better

or...

2) See where negotiating will get you with the current offer

Being that my US Experience has all been in Nursing Homes, my sense is I would only be "Marketable" for Nursing Home Jobs...taking into consideration they would be hiring me to move half way across the country. From their point of view....I'm sure they have plenty of Hospital RN's they can choose from locally rather than hiring an Hospital RN whose recent experience has been in Nursing Homes. This makes me think that...I'm only marketable for Nursing Home jobs when taking into consideration I live half way across the country.

Thoughts?

MsBruiser · Dec 7, 2012

If given the choice (again), I probably would not have moved back to AZ. But you must have a draw to the state (that is neither here nor there!)...You have nothing to lose by asking nicely, right? But understand that people typically take state jobs for the security and benefits. That is why they pay less. The worst they can do is say no if you ask in a professional, non-accusatory way. I have often found that it is tough to negotiate a hospital-based salary. They tend to work off a rigid "matrix" of years experience/education. The state is just as rigid in their salary designations but ask anyway! Not sure about private LTC(s)

Remember, this state is led by a (mostly) Tea Party morons who make $24,000 a year as a state legislator. I would not align my financial future with that ilk. Ask for money. If they say no - consider how badly you want to move here. If the draw is that strong, come-work-apply for another job when you have some experience on your resume. There is no shortage of LTC(s) in metro Phoenix.

asiangal · Dec 8, 2012

Your wonderful Ms. Bruiser...thank you for sharing your insights ! Yes...my inlaws are there and my husband finished graduate school there at ASU. I've personally been there a couple of times also. The weather there is much better than here from the Midwest. Outside of the weather here, we live in a small/rural area (don't get me started :no: )

P.S. Any good LTC's that you recommend in the Scottsdale or Sun City/Peoria area? Many thanks for all your help and assistance as I respect your judgement.

Warmest regards,

AsianGal

MsBruiser · Dec 8, 2012

No problem! BTW, I did clinical time at the AZ Vets home (and had several friends who actually worked there) and loved it. The patients are just awesome, and the facilities were impressive. Granted, that was 6.5 years ago! But don't write them off for a few $$ an hour. I don't know enough about LTC to recommend any places...I work at Mayo Clinic.

AZ is actually pretty wonderful. I came here for graduate school, married a local, we moved to the Midwest, and the weather drove my wife crazy. So we are back. If you can ignore the insane politics, the lifestyle is very, very easy. I grew up in NY where things were very expensive and life was not easy. We live in Central Phoenix and everything is just so convenient. If I moved tomorrow, I would miss the place - it is home.

Shoot me a PM if I can be of any help....

asiangal · Dec 8, 2012

No problem! BTW, I did clinical time at the AZ Vets home (and had several friends who actually worked there) and loved it. The patients are just awesome, and the facilities were impressive. Granted, that was 6.5 years ago! But don't write them off for a few $$ an hour. I don't know enough about LTC to recommend any places...I work at Mayo Clinic.
AZ is actually pretty wonderful. I came here for graduate school, married a local, we moved to the Midwest, and the weather drove my wife crazy. So we are back. If you can ignore the insane politics, the lifestyle is very, very easy. I grew up in NY where things were very expensive and life was not easy. We live in Central Phoenix and everything is just so convenient. If I moved tomorrow, I would miss the place - it is home.
Shoot me a PM if I can be of any help....

Thanks for responding....actually I would love to shoot you a PM but I'm new here and they won't allow me to. Let me know if you have any other thoughts....

AZMOMO2 · Dec 8, 2012

VA has great benefits which more than make up for the pay rate. If you continue your education to BSN they will pay for it and then you can move into their hospital sections. They do increase pay rates based on years of time in grade... meaning how long you have been a nurse. BTW the offered pay is pretty much on par with the going rate for an RN with some experience... the large hospitals actually pay wayyyyy less than that rate. ($23-25)

Besides you can live very comfortably on that rate of pay in AZ... As for relocation? Well you can always ask... but if it states in the job posting that relocation is not authorized they won't give it... also additionally pay negotiations actually go in front of a board.